Drug & supplement interaction

Bacopa + Acetaminophen, Chlorpheniramine, Dextromethorphan

Acetaminophen, Chlorpheniramine, Dextromethorphan brand name: Coricidin II Extra Strength Cold and Flu.

Moderate Interaction
Medically reviewed by · Updated September 2026
The bottom line Moderate

Acetaminophen, Chlorpheniramine, Dextromethorphan falls into 3 drug categories that Bacopa can interact with; the most serious is rated moderate. Theoretically, bacopa might increase the levels and adverse effects of CYP1A2 substrates.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityModerate
LikelihoodPossible
Interactions3
EvidenceD
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
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Interaction report

Bacopa and Acetaminophen, Chlorpheniramine, Dextromethorphan

These two interact in 3 distinct ways. Each one is explained separately below.

Why Are There 3 Interactions?

Bacopa interacts with whole categories of medication. Acetaminophen, Chlorpheniramine, Dextromethorphan falls into 3 of those categories, so it can interact with Bacopa in 3 different ways. We’ve listed each one below — your overall risk is driven by the most serious of them (Moderate).

Moderate

CYTOCHROME P450 1A2 (CYP1A2) SUBSTRATES

1 of 3

Why this applies to Acetaminophen, Chlorpheniramine, Dextromethorphan

Acetaminophen, Chlorpheniramine, Dextromethorphan falls under CYTOCHROME P450 1A2 (CYP1A2) SUBSTRATES — the group Bacopa interacts with.

Theoretically, bacopa might increase the levels and adverse effects of CYP1A2 substrates.
Research on the effects of bacopa extracts on CYP1A2 enzymes is conflicting. Some in vitro evidence shows that bacopa extract can moderately and non-competitively inhibit CYP1A2, while other in vitro evidence suggests that any effect is unlikely to be clinically significant.
Severity Moderate Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Interaction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Dr. Brian Staiger explains PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist

This Coricidin product is a combo of acetaminophen (a pain and fever reducer), chlorpheniramine (an antihistamine), and dextromethorphan (a cough suppressant). The thinking here is that bacopa might slow down a liver enzyme called CYP1A2, which could let certain medicines build up a bit higher than usual. In theory, that could mean more of the typical side effects from this cold medicine, like drowsiness, dizziness, dry mouth, or a foggy, sleepy feeling.

I want to be honest with you though: this is only based on lab and test-tube studies, and even those results disagree with each other. None of these three ingredients lean heavily on CYP1A2 for clearance, so a real-world problem is unlikely. Still, if you tend to get very sleepy from this cold medicine, mention the bacopa to your pharmacist.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Kar A, Pandit S, Mukherjee K, Bahadur S, Mukherjee PK. Safety assessment of selected medicinal food plants used in Ayurveda through CYP450 enzyme inhibition study. J Sci Food Agric 2017;97(1):333-40. doi: 10.1002/jsfa.7739. PubMed
  2. Ramasamy S, Kiew LV, Chung LY. Inhibition of human cytochrome P450 enzymes by Bacopa monnieri standardized extract and constituents. Molecules 2014;19(2):2588-601. PubMed
Moderate

CYTOCHROME P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) SUBSTRATES

2 of 3

Acetaminophen, Chlorpheniramine, Dextromethorphan also falls under CYTOCHROME P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) SUBSTRATES.

Theoretically, bacopa might increase the levels and adverse effects of CYP3A4 substrates.
Research on the effects of bacopa extracts on CYP3A4 enzymes is conflicting. Some in vitro evidence suggests that bacopa extract can moderately and competitively inhibit CYP3A4, while other in vitro evidence suggests that any effect is unlikely to be clinically significant.
Severity Moderate Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Interaction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Dr. Brian Staiger explains PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist

This cold and flu combo (Coricidin) packs three ingredients, and one of them, dextromethorphan, is partly cleared by a liver enzyme called CYP3A4. The thinking here is that bacopa might slow that enzyme down a little, which could let dextromethorphan build up. If that happened, you might feel more drowsy, dizzy, or foggy than usual.

I want to be honest about how shaky this is. The evidence comes only from lab dish studies, and even those disagree, with some showing little real effect. So for most people taking bacopa now and then, this is unlikely to cause trouble. Still, since both can make you sleepy, it's worth a quick check with your pharmacist or doctor before combining them regularly.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Kar A, Pandit S, Mukherjee K, Bahadur S, Mukherjee PK. Safety assessment of selected medicinal food plants used in Ayurveda through CYP450 enzyme inhibition study. J Sci Food Agric 2017;97(1):333-40. doi: 10.1002/jsfa.7739. PubMed
  2. Ramasamy S, Kiew LV, Chung LY. Inhibition of human cytochrome P450 enzymes by Bacopa monnieri standardized extract and constituents. Molecules 2014;19(2):2588-601. PubMed
Moderate

ANTICHOLINERGIC DRUGS

3 of 3

Acetaminophen, Chlorpheniramine, Dextromethorphan also falls under ANTICHOLINERGIC DRUGS.

Theoretically, concurrent use might decrease the effectiveness of both agents.
Bacopa seems to inhibit acetylcholinesterase and might increase acetylcholine levels, which could counteract the effects of anticholinergic drugs. Similarly, anticholinergic drugs might counteract the cholinergic effects of bacopa.
Severity Moderate Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Interaction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Dr. Brian Staiger explains PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist

The piece of this combo cold medicine that matters here is the chlorpheniramine, an older antihistamine that works by blocking acetylcholine in the body. Bacopa may do the opposite, gently raising acetylcholine levels. So in theory, the two could blunt each other a little. Bacopa might slightly soften the drowsiness and dry-mouth feel of the antihistamine, while the antihistamine might dull whatever memory benefit you hope to get from bacopa.

I want to be clear that this is a theoretical concern based on how each works, not something proven in people. For most folks taking an occasional dose, it is unlikely to cause a real problem. The acetaminophen and dextromethorphan parts are not involved. If you take bacopa daily, just mention it to your pharmacist or doctor.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Morgan A, Stevens J. Does Bacopa monnieri improve memory performance in older persons? Results of a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial. J Altern Complement Med 2010;16:753-9.

What These Ratings Mean

Every interaction above is graded three ways — here’s the key to each label.

Severity how clinically significant the interaction is
Major

Clinically significant. Avoid the combination, or use only under close professional supervision.

Moderate

Usually worth avoiding or managing — may need monitoring, a dose change, or timing apart.

Minor

Generally not serious. Be aware of it and mention it to your pharmacist.

Likelihood how strong the evidence is that the interaction actually happens in people
  • LikelyWell-controlled human studies have demonstrated the likely existence of this interaction.
  • ProbableInteraction has not been documented in well-controlled studies, however, the interaction has been demonstrated in some small human studies or in controlled animal studies in conjunction with multiple case reports.
  • PossibleInteraction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.
  • UnlikelyInteraction has been demonstrated in animal or in lab research but has been shown not to occur in humans.
Evidence the quality of the studies behind the rating (graded A–D)
  • AHigh-quality meta-analysis (quantitative systematic review).
  • BCase-control study.
  • CConsensus.
  • DAnecdotal evidence.

These ratings are for information only. Never start, stop, or otherwise change your therapy before speaking with your provider.

Keep it in perspective

Bacopa Also Interacts With Other Medications

Bacopa has 916 moderate, 13 minor known drug interactions in our database — the Acetaminophen, Chlorpheniramine, Dextromethorphan one above is among them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 916 Minor 13 No known interaction 1,901 (incl. Acetaminophen, Chlorpheniramine, Dextromethorphan)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Bacopa

Covers the 2,830 medications we’ve checked against Bacopa. Pick one to open its full report.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Acetaminophen, Chlorpheniramine, Dextromethorphan

This page covers Bacopa only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Acetaminophen, Chlorpheniramine, Dextromethorphan page lists 275 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Asarabacca (major), Beer (major), Grapefruit (major) and Henbane (major).

By severity: 10 major · 220 moderate · 45 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Acetaminophen, Chlorpheniramine, Dextromethorphan page

“Alcohol is the risk to understand first. It carries major ratings alongside the acetaminophen, chlorpheniramine, and dextromethorphan combination sold as Coricidin II Extra Strength Cold and Flu, because acetaminophen already taxes the liver, and heavy drinking on top of it raises the chance of genuine liver injury.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Acetaminophen, Chlorpheniramine, Dextromethorphan interaction page

One more smart check

Taking Bacopa as Part of a Dietary Supplement Product? Check It for Interactions

We hold 1,420 real supplement products containing Bacopa, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Bacopa. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Acetaminophen, Chlorpheniramine, Dextromethorphan too, on top of Bacopa — and those would not show on this page. Find your product and we’ll check every ingredient on its label:

How much people look this up

Where Bacopa and Acetaminophen, Chlorpheniramine, Dextromethorphan Sit Against Everything Else

Out of every supplement and medication people look up on HelloPharmacist, here is where these two land this week — and which way each has been moving.

Supplement Bacopa
Top 10%

#136 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Acetaminophen, Chlorpheniramine, Dextromethorphan
Top half

#891 of 2,830 medications looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today

Position among everything looked up on this site, not a measure of how commonly either one is used or how important it is. A supplement can climb this list because of a news story. It counts every request to the page, automated ones included, and nothing here identifies anyone.

Supplement

About Bacopa

What is Bacopa?

Bacopa
  • Memory and cognitive support
  • Anxiety and stress
  • ADHD symptoms
  • Age-related memory decline
  • General brain health

Bacopa is an Ayurvedic herb most often used for memory and thinking. Some small studies suggest it may modestly help memory when taken regularly for several weeks, but the evidence is limited and quality varies. It is generally well tolerated but can cause stomach upset, and it should be avoided in pregnancy and breastfeeding due to a lack of safety data.

Read the full Bacopa monograph & all interactions
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Bacopa

Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Bacopa — both the ones with a known interaction and the ones without. Select any drug for the full detail.

0Major
916Moderate
13Minor
1,900No known interaction
916 Moderate 13 Minor 1,900 No interaction
Moderate

916 interactions

Showing 60 of 916 moderate interactions — see all 916 on the Bacopa page.

Minor

13 interactions

No interaction 1,900 drugs checked — show the list

We also checked Bacopa against these medications and found no known interaction in our sources. Open any page to confirm.

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 1,900 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Bacopa list.

See the full Bacopa interactions page
See every supplement checked against Acetaminophen, Chlorpheniramine, Dextromethorphan, ranked by severity
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Interaction details are evidence-graded and sourced from the Natural Medicines database. The medication overview comes from MedlinePlus.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC

Keep exploring
Bacopa monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Acetaminophen, Chlorpheniramine, Dextromethorphan supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Acetaminophen, Chlorpheniramine, Dextromethorphan, ranked by severity Supplement interaction checker › Check any supplement or product against your medications Browse medications A–Z › Every drug we've checked against herbs & supplements Ask a pharmacist › Free, personal answer from our licensed team
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Bacopa and Acetaminophen, Chlorpheniramine, Dextromethorphan Together: Common Questions

Can you take Bacopa with Acetaminophen, Chlorpheniramine, Dextromethorphan?
There is a moderate interaction, so it may be acceptable with monitoring or timing changes — but check with your pharmacist first. Read the full details on this page and confirm with your pharmacist before combining them.
Why are there 3 interactions listed for Bacopa and Acetaminophen, Chlorpheniramine, Dextromethorphan?
Acetaminophen, Chlorpheniramine, Dextromethorphan belongs to more than one drug category, and Bacopa interacts with each of those categories a little differently. We list every one so nothing is missed — your overall risk is driven by the most serious of them.
How serious is the Bacopa and Acetaminophen, Chlorpheniramine, Dextromethorphan interaction?
We rate it Moderate. This combination may require monitoring, a dose adjustment, or separating the times you take each one. Consult your pharmacist before using them together.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Still Have a Question About Acetaminophen, Chlorpheniramine, Dextromethorphan and Bacopa?

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This information is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always check with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or combining supplements and medications.